Pack Baseball: Weekend Wrap-Up

Play of the game: Eric Surkamp entered the ninth inning trying to finish off the best pitching performance of his college career, holding on to a 1-0 Wolfpack lead. But Surkamp allowed a lead-off single and intentionally walked All-American catcher Matt Wieters to put two on with one out. From there, Wally Crancer did the rest, ending the game with a two-run double to left center.

Top Performers:
Tech's David Duncan - 8.2 IP, 2 Hits, 1 Run, 11 Strikeouts
A solo shot by Jeremy Synan in the fourth inning was about the only blemish on Duncan's performance, as he set down 21 of the first 22 batters he faced. Synan reached on an error in the ninth to keep Duncan from finishing the game or registering the win as the Jacket's came back for two in the ninth.

Eric Surkamp - 8.1 IP CG, 7 Hits, 2 Runs, 1 Walk, 4 Strikeouts
Despite the loss, Surkamp may have put together the best game of his young NC State career. The lefty didn't cruised quite as easily as Duncan, but he kept the Yellow Jacket offense off the board for eight innings. He had retired 14 of his last 15 batters going into the eighth.

Notables: Brad Rulon (2-1) got credit for the win by retiring the last Wolfpack batter of the game. The Pack's two hits were by Synan and Ramon Corona, who singled to center in the eighth.

Saturday: Georgia Tech 4 (25-14, 12-7 ACC), NC State 3 (27-13, 11-9)

Play of the game: The Yellow Jackets grabbed the game-deciding run in the sixth inning, when lead-off batter Danny Payne hit an RBI single off Andrew Taylor to drive home Tony Plagman from third base.

Top Performers:
Tech's Danny Payne3-3, 1 Run, 2 RBIs; 1.1 IP, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 4 Strikeouts
Payne did the job at the plate and on the mound for the Yellow Jackets, going a perfect 3-3 at the plate and striking out four of the five batters he faced. Payne came in from center field to take over pitching duties in the eighth and struck out the side with little problem. He returned for the ninth, struck out the first batter then allowed a double to Ryan Pond before moving back out to center field.

Mike Roskopf - 1-3, Home Run, 1 Run, 2 RBIs
The Wolfpack offense was a little better on Saturday, but not by much. Red-hot Mike Roskopf was the one bright spot, knocking a two-run home run to right field in the sixth. The blast briefly tied the game at three.

Notables:
Andrew Brackman (6-4) took the loss, allowing eight hits, four runs, four walks and four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of work. Jared Hyatt (7-0) picked up the win in relief for the Jackets, pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Pond was the only Wolfpack player to register a mult-hit game in the first two days in Atlanta, going 2-3 with a double.

Sunday: Georgia Tech 7 (26-14, 13-7 ACC), NC State 3 (27-14, 11-10)

Play of the game: In the top of the first, the Wolfpack offense went down in order with a line out and two ground outs. The sequence foreshadowed another day of dismal offensive performance en route to getting swept in Atlanta, where the team hit .167 for the series and striking out 33 times in three games. The Pack was 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Top Performers:
Tech's Luke Murton – 3-4, Home Run, 2 Runs, 2 RBIs
Murton hit his seventh homer of the season with a shot to left center field to help the Yellow Jackets sweep away the Wolfpack. Murton added an infield single in the second inning, and a single to center in the seventh.

Ramon Corona – 3-3, Double, Home Run, 1 Run, 1 RBI, Walk
Batting clean-up, Corona did his best to keep the Pack from getting swept. The shortstop had three of the teams eight hits, including a double and his third home run of the season with a shot to left in the fourth inning. Corona, who struggled mightily early in the season, has hit well over .300 during the last month.

Notables: Freshman Jimmy Gillheeney (3-2) had his worst performance in an NC State uniform, giving up six runs and lasting just 2 1/3 innings while taking the loss. Reliever Chris Hicks (2-0) got the win with 2 1/3 innings of shutout baseball. Ryan Howard hit a solo home run in the fourth, going back-to-back with Corona to lead off the inning.